Latest news with #Rickey
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Sacramento': This Road-Trip Movie Will Drive You Crazy
R | 1h 29m | Roadtrip, Dramedy | 2025 'Sacramento' has an inviting poster—any movie with Kristen Stewart, I'm going to want to see. Even though Stewart's uglified herself somewhat for this freshman effort by screenwriter-director-actor Michael Angarano (who also cast his wife, father, and baby in the film), her presence wasn't enough for me to not thoroughly rue this 90 minutes I'll never get back. This is the story of two of the weakest, most ineffectual, angst-filled, needy, Peter Pan boy-men on the planet. One's named Rickey (Angarano). And since annoying Peter Pans are actor Michael Cera's calling card, Cera plays Glenn, Rickey's best friend since they were kids. Glenn Glenn (Michael Cera) wants to know what his wife Rosie (Kristen Stewart) is doing, and she would like him to go away, in "Sacramento." Vertical Glenn's wife Rosie (Stewart) is eight months pregnant. Glenn's got anxiety, passive-aggressive anger issues, OCD, and is no handyman. Wanting to test their new baby crib and finding it a bit creaky, he flies into a rage and rattles it so hard, it breaks. Rosie sweetly reminds him that she's the one who currently needs care-taking, rather than having to mother her grown husband. Glenn remarks that this information is 'an actionable note' for him to work on. Since Glenn is also about to get laid off from his job, Rosie reassures him that she can support the family while he takes a year to stay home with the baby. Just what every woman wants. Related Stories 4/22/2025 4/10/2025 Rosie's soul has long left the relationship. She deems her hubby a pathetic, predictable child of a man, and clearly must have been taking some strong drugs when she first met him. That would be my guess. Casting alpha Kristen Stewart as a woman who could be remotely attracted to such a nerdy non-nest-builder is so outlandish that it makes it very challenging to suspend disbelief for any other aspect of this film. The Misadventures of Glenn and Rickey Rickey (Michael Angarano) drops by unannounced, in "Sacramento." Vertical Rickey shows up unexpectedly at Glenn's door, after being out of touch for over a year. We first meet him trying to wrest the 12-step type therapy group he participates in away from the overseeing psychiatrist. He mistakenly believes he's a talented facilitator, though he has neither degree nor experience. When Glenn spies Rickey in his front yard, he's reluctant to reconnect with him because he's come to the conclusion that Rickey is a loser. Talk about projection. Rosie says, 'But he's your best friend.' 'He's trying to hide in a tree in the yard!' 'But you're hiding behind the kitchen sink.' This is all intended to be humorous. However, more-or-less homeless Rickey has somehow managed to not only track down, but restore (to the tune of at least $5,000) Glenn's old brown convertible that holds many memories for the two of them. Glenn has no choice but to agree to accompany Rickey on a road trip from L.A. to Sacramento to spread Rickey's father's ashes. Glenn surreptitiously phones Rosie from a truck stop to complain that Rickey played the 'dead dad' card. While Glenn's on the phone, Rickey surreptitiously empties a tennis ball canister, scoops up some gas station dirt, thereby jerry-building an ash-urn. Their misadventures along the way include spending the night with two former female boxers—both much more attractive and more powerful than the pathetic road-trip duo. The women now own a gym, and the two men end up ineptly scuffling with each other. Twice. Glenn also insults a young female convenience store clerk because the store doesn't carry the exact kind of sunblock he's looking for. Glenn (Michael Cera, L) drives to Sacramento with his old friend Rickey (Michael Angarano) whom he doesn't like anymore, in "Sacramento." Vertical Stop the Car, Let Me Out The biggest problem with the film is that while the men are immature, needy, self-involved, and pathologically disingenuous at the expense of everyone they meet, 'Sacramento' isn't exaggerated and over the top enough to be successful as a comedy. Director Angarano insists on trying to sell the notion that this loser-duo is somehow nevertheless mildly appealing to all these attractive women, to the point that it's completely out of touch with of reality—the result of which is an hour and a half of cringe. Rosie (Kristen Stewart) politely listens to her husband, in "Sacramento." Vertical Stewart's natural charisma lights up the screen with a layered, authentic performance that, in any other setting would capture audience interest, but due to the yawning reality-void she's tasked with making appear real, it's too much to ask of any actor. With 10 more rewrites and an A-list director, Angarano might have had something. As a sort of poor man's Sam Rockwell with good hair and an appealing face, he may have gotten his foot in the Hollywood door with this calling card. I'll always raise a glass to anyone attempting the giant task of Hollywood-quadruple-threat, writing-acting-directing-producing, but Angarano should probably just focus on acting for a while. Promotional poster for "Sacramento." Vertical 'Sacramento' Director: Michael Angarano Starring: Michael Angarano, Kristen Stewart, Michael Cera MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes Release Date: April 11, 2025 Rating: 1 star out of 5 Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US pet stores and main street shops caught in trade war crossfire
Selling everything for pets from treats and tennis balls, Noelie Rickey is struggling with the consequences of US President Donald Trump's trade policies. In 2022, she and her business partners, took over a small speciality shop for dog supplies - The Dog Park - in the picturesque old town of Alexandria in the state of Virginia, close to the capital Washington. Back then, sales were at their peak, says Rickey, a former veterinary nurse. "Now they're at their lowest point." There are many reasons for this though what worries her most is Washington's tariff war with almost the entire world. Trump imposed blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all imports to the country, plus additional levies for a host of trading partners, triggering significant turbulence in the stock and financial markets in April. While he suspended many of the planned tariffs to allow for trade negotiations, special tariffs of up to 145% remain in place on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on US products. Trade war takes toll on small businesses and households Trump's tariffs, with the stated aim of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US, are driving people worldwide to rethink their relations with Washington. The impact remains unclear as it may take a while for the tariffs to reach supply chains and shoppers. But many are worried about prices rising and increasing reports of hoarding. According to calculations by Yale University, the tariffs could lead to an average long-term loss of purchasing power of $2,700 per US household in 2025. While Trump says the trade conflict will lead the US to a "golden age," it is hitting small businesses such as Rickey's particularly hard. She hasn't raised her prices yet, but she won't be able to hold out long, she says, as she imports many of her products, with food mainly from Canada and plastic or fabric toys, dog leashes and other accessories from China. Many of the retailers Rickey works with are pretty small and come from North America, she says. They are not large chains or online retailers that focus primarily on quantity. But even her business partners' products often come from China. "If I tried to buy only American products, the shop would look very different," says Rickey. Ultimately, for most of her customers, it is the price that counts, she says, especially as the price of everyday products is soaring. The four-legged end consumer has practical needs, she says. "If a dog breaks a toy every fortnight, they're more likely to reach for the $10 model than the expensive $40 item." Whether directly or indirectly, China is a major supplier of cheap consumer goods to the US, whether for major retailers such as Walmart and Amazon or neighbourhood stores offering toys, clothing, electronics or household items. "Many entrepreneurs depend on Chinese supply chains. Whether it's to keep their business running or to fill their warehouses," says Alexis D'Amato from the Small Business Majority advocacy group, which represents 85,000 small businesses from a wide range of sectors across the country. A small business can include up to 500 workers, according to the US government agency SBA, while the Small Business Majority draws the line at around 30 staff members. Even though the reality in many places is characterized by structural change, these owner-managed shops embody the US ideal of main street, where people know each other well, unlike the powerful, anonymous Wall Street. It's an ideal deeply rooted in the nation's self-image, on both sides of the political aisle. But such small traders are also part of global supply chains and unlike larger corporations, they have little cushion for price increases or ways to alter their suppliers, says D'Amato. Trump's tariff policy is 'a slap in the face' She slams Trump's trade policy lurch, saying, "It feels like there are new tariffs or changes every other day." That makes it almost impossible to plan for the longer term. They are a question of survival for Beth Benike of Minnesota who told CNN and CBS News about the struggles of her family business, selling baby products made in China. A new batch worth $160,000 was ready for dispatch when the tariffs rose to 125%. Rather than paying $30,000 to import the goods, her imports were suddenly going to cost $200,000 - money she doesn't have. Now, the goods are going to cost even more. Benike is not only worried about her employees. Her own home is also at stake as it secures a business loan. Then there are the financial markets. In the US, many people's retirement provisions are closely linked to the stock market. Often those who are self-employed rely on their stock portfolio. When markets fluctuate, their future fluctuates too, says D'Amato. Trump's customs policy is "a slap in the face" for many of her association members, she says. What they need is support. She does not accept the government's argument that tariffs will ultimately strengthen domestic production. "There are enough other ways," says D'Amato. Rickey agrees. If you want to promote domestic production, you have to invest in subsidies, locations and skilled labour, she says. "People who can operate a sewing machine and produce large numbers of dog toys don't exist here," she says. And considering Trump's tough migration policy, she adds, "If they do, then we'll just deport them as quickly as possible." What Rickey wants to see is a coherent approach from the government. Customs duties are only one part, she says. Sales at The Dog Park have been struggling for several reasons. The end of post-pandemic support and the wave of mass layoffs at federal agencies have taken a toll—especially in this region, where many public sector workers live in Virginia and commute to Washington DC. Tourism in Alexandria has also dropped significantly, leading to a noticeable decline in foot traffic. Still, Rickey remains pragmatic. Even before Trump returned to office, she had begun diversifying her business, introducing dog daycare and pet grooming services. Cats are also welcome.
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Jackie Robinson's Silent Fight for Racial Equality
On Aug. 28, 1945, Jackie Robinson walked into the office of Branch Rickey, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Unaware of the reason he was called to this meeting, Robinson had no idea that he was about to play a part in changing American history. In '7 Men and Their Secrets of Greatness,' Eric Metaxas recreated this moment. When Rickey informed Robinson that he wanted him to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson was at first too surprised and overcome to utter a word. Blacks played in their own league, but never on major league baseball teams. After Robinson accepted the offer, Rickey explained what Robinson probably already knew: He would be the target of verbal abuse and threats because of the color of his skin. Then Rickey added a kicker to their agreement that Robinson couldn't have foreseen. 'I'm looking for a ballplayer who has the guts not to fight back.' American professional baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) of the Brooklyn Dodgers, dressed in a road uniform, crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball, 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder. PhotoRickey then took off his coat and acted out various scenes that would soon confront Robinson: the hotel clerk who would refuse him a room; the maître d' who would turn him away from the restaurant entrance; the spectators at the games who would hurl obscenities and slurs at him. Rickey hit Robinson with these curses and racial taunts right there in his office. Robinson withstood all that Rickey threw at him. He considered the offer, recognized it as an enormous opportunity both to play ball as he had dreamed and to improve race relations, and shook hands on the agreement with Rickey. Looking down at the two men from a wall in Rickey's office was a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Robinson first played for the Dodgers' Montreal farm team. There, he successfully completed that season without reacting to the jeers and taunts that often accompanied his appearances on the diamond, and joined the Dodgers in New York in the spring of 1947. A turning point for him and his team came in his first game when manager Ben Chapman of the Philadelphia Phillies, joined by several of his players, spat out racial epithets throughout the contest. Years later, as Metaxas reported, Robinson recollected that horrible afternoon in 'I Never Had It Made,' his 1972 autobiography: 'Starting to the plate in the first inning, I could scarcely believe my ears.' At the stadium the next day, when the insults grew even more cruel and obscene, Robinson's teammates, including those opposed to having him on the team, stepped up to defend him. Eddie Stanky, the second baseman, shouted back at the Phillies' dugout: 'Listen, you yellow-bellied cowards, why don't you yell at somebody who can answer back?' Related Stories 4/16/2025 7/25/2023 Metaxas explained, 'Branch Rickey was delighted with the team's response. Chapman's evil intentions had, he said, 'solidified and unified thirty men, not one of whom was willing to sit by and see someone kick around a man who had his hands tied behind his back.'' Jackie Robinson and his wife, Rachel, arrive at the Capitol Hill grounds in Washington, on July 18, 1949. AP Photo Yet the abuse continued, and not only on the field. Some restaurants and hotels refused Robinson service, and death threats came through the mail. Throughout that entire season, however, Robinson maintained his cool. Never once did he give way to the temptation of retaliation. He ignored the mockery and curses, and usually walked to the plate without a glance at his tormentors. His wife, Rachel, whom he had married in 1946 after Rickey's offer, stood by him and helped him remember the cause for which he was fighting: racial equality not only in baseball but in the nation. According to Metaxas, Robinson also relied heavily on his religious faith to maintain his silence in this torrent of abuse. He made a habit of 'getting down on his knees every night to pray for strength.' Doubtless, he was supported in this resort to prayer by Rickey himself, also a man of strong faith. By the end of the season, Robinson's name had become a household word. Moreover, he won the 1947 Rookie of the Year Award, with a batting average of .297 and an outstanding performance at the plate. Though the abuse continued into the next season, another turning point occurred in Cincinnati. While Robinson was once again being assailed from the stands, Pee Wee Reese walked over to his teammate and put his arm around him. Dedicated in 2005, a A statue of Pee Wee Reese (L) and Jackie Robinson was unveiled in then, other blacks were entering major league baseball. Over the next decade, this practice of putting ballplayers on the field based on their talent rather than on the pigmentation of their skin became standard. Robinson himself went on to an outstanding career in baseball. After retiring from the game, he was engaged in several successful businesses, ran programs aimed at providing food and housing for the poor, and was active in the civil rights movement. In 1962, only 15 years after joining the Dodgers, he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ten years later, he collapsed from heart failure into his wife's arms, telling her for the last time, 'I love you.' Lots of great Americans have helped improve America through their deeds and words. Jackie Robinson did the same through dignity and silence. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jackie Robinson is a Civil Rights hero. DEI helped him make history
Branch Rickey knew his intentions. He, the former general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals who'd created a dynasty featuring stars like Dizzy Dean and Stan Musial, wanted to replicate his success. Rickey's work would be difficult in Brooklyn. When he became president and general manager in 1943, the Dodgers were the low team on New York's baseball totem pole. The Yankees had nine World Series titles, the Giants a handful of their own. His challenges were myriad — the most pressing being that baseball players were in short supply. The best were off in Europe, fighting World War II against the Nazis and Hitler's Jim Crow-influenced fascism. So dire were the straits in Major League Baseball that the Browns signed a player with one arm. Outfielder Pete Gray wasn't just a decent ballplayer; he was also a significant draw at the ticket booth, attracting fans who were likely disappointed that their favorites were still off at war. But despite the desperation felt by Rickey and his fellow executives, there was one pool of athletes that had yet to be mined for talent. Following the hardening of baseball's color in the late 1800s (a smattering of Black players had played on teams before then), Major League Baseball rosters had remained lily white for decades. Even the Latin American players were fair-skinned, so as to not thwart the unwritten rule that athletes of African descent had to play on separate ball fields. Rickey, however, understood the benefit in disrupting baseball's status quo — for his team, as well as American society at large. We all know what happened next: On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson walked onto Ebbets Field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. If you're at all familiar with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the subsequent creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — both of which outlawed employment discrimination and became the precursor to modern diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives — the process of bringing Jackie Robinson into white organized baseball will sound very familiar. Branch Rickey knew that signing the first Black player in Major League Baseball's modern era was a potentially risky endeavor. He first had to clear the move with the rest of the Dodgers leadership. He then had to find the right man for the job — a man, it so happened, who had become a nationally known as a multi-sport star at the University of California Los Angeles. At UCLA, an integrated school where Black students were a stark minority, Robinson hadn't just learned to navigate predominately white spaces. He'd also learned to absorb the attacks — both physical and psychological — from people who didn't feel he belonged. This experience, as much as anything else, made him an ideal candidate for Rickey's great experiment. And there was the final box to check, the need to position Robinson's signing as a greater good. That part came easy, and had little to do with Rickey himself. Well before Robinson's signing in August 1945, Black activists, newspeople, and everyday citizens had been pushing for integration across American society. Opinion: Book bans and DEI backlash aren't about unity. They're erasing Black history. Baseball was as good a place as any to start, and with his signing of Robinson, Rickey became, to millions of Black Americans, an overnight hero. It mattered little that he hadn't paid a dime to the Kansas City Monarchs for Robinson's contract, only that he had been willing to do what no other executive would. And for the white Americans who hadn't been so sure, who weren't convinced that an all-white Major League was a problem? Robinson's Rookie of the Year title and leading of his team to the National League pennant in '47 were response enough. There were no computers back then, no internet or social media accounts. But if there had been, I can only imagine that, in the days after the deal became official, Rickey and company would've proudly flooded the web with a statement declaring their commitment to DEI. For those who've accepted the lie that DEI is an attack against meritocracy, or some evil, Democrat-hatched strategy to 'divide America,' Jackie Robinson's signing is an unassailable counterpoint. No matter the MLK-style defanging of his Civil Rights efforts (a flattening and smoothing that has certainly catalyzed his universal acceptance) or MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred's assertion that he "transcends any debate that's going on in today's society about issues surrounding DEI," one truth remains: Jackie Robinson was a quintessential DEI hire. Opinion: Trump DEI orders foolishly erased Navajo Code Talkers from military websites All the markers are there: the mandate that Robinson accept being both 'first' and 'only,' the reality that his actions (and inactions) would be used as a benchmark by which to measure the worthiness of those who came after... And, perhaps most important: the historical whiteness of Major League Baseball, which proves that Robinson would've never been signed if not for Rickey's expressed intent to add a Black player to the Dodgers roster. It's part of what makes the Trump administration's attempts to erase Robinson's legacy in the name of "DEI" so ridiculous. There is no Jackie Robinson - at least not Jackie Robinson the Major League Baseball barrier breaker - without it. It was MLK who said that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.' Yet even with his life and career as evidence, we often need reminding that every individual has a shared responsibility to help bend that arc. Nothing truly great, or worthwhile, happens on its own. Robinson knew this, which is why, at the end of his life, he was still pushing for diversity, this time pointing down the first and third base lines and publicly wondering why there weren't any Black coaches in Major League Baseball. Opinion: Sign up for the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter He, perhaps the most famous DEI hire in American history, understood the value of making an exception in the name of equality. This Jackie Robinson Day, as Americans on both sides of the political aisle celebrate his bravery and athletic dominance in the face of searing hatred, I hope they'll begin to understand that, too. And for folks who will still argue that DEI initiatives unfairly elevate the unqualified, who will tell me that the 1940s were a different time and that modern DEI is a deformed derivative of the initial design, here's another reminder: Historians agree that Jackie Robinson probably wasn't the best athlete available from the Negro Leagues. He wasn't even the best on his Monarchs team. Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@ or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite and BlueSky at @ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jackie Robinson wouldn't have made MLB history without DEI | Opinion
Los Angeles Times
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Old friends on different trajectories reunite in ‘Sacramento,' a comedy with wisdom
From the 'Road to' series through buddy action movies and bromances, male friendship as comic fodder has been a constant pull, one that has increasingly favored immaturity as the catharsis. Smart plus stupid became stupid hates smarts, until dumb felt ubiquitous. It's been getting tiresome of late to watch grown men devolve for laughs, which makes actor-turned-writer-director Michael Angarano's old-pals-in-crisis comedy 'Sacramento' a bittersweet kick. The film explores what's funny — and terrifyingly truthful — about being wrenched into adulthood. Angarano, who wrote the screenplay with actor Chris Smith, also stars as Rickey, a happy-go-lucky manchild who shows up at the Los Angeles house of onetime bestie Glenn, played by Michael Cera, to convince him it's time to hang out more deeply again. This unannounced visit occurs after we've just gotten a taste of who Glenn is: a loving but edgy, nervous and needy husband to his very pregnant wife, Rosie, played by Kristen Stewart with such deadpan spousal sobriety it's a masterclass in the everyday tolerance that undergirds genuine love. (With Glenn, she's clearly had chances to do some pre-mommying.) Rickey would rather they retrench into a nostalgia tour of laughs and revelry — he's even found the tan Chrysler LeBaron they used to ride in. Glenn is loath to go backward, much less indulge in personality quirks he's outgrown because fatherhood awaits. Right away, the perfectly (mis)matched Angarano and Cera do a deft job with the undercurrent in their awkward reunion. Rickey's energy is harmless yet seems mysteriously pained by unmet expectations, as when he gently admonishes Glenn: 'Loosen up, you haven't said anything funny.' Meanwhile, Glenn's judgmental attitude is its own worrying mask. He likes to remind people that he keeps his phone on silent to 'stay present.' The tension eases, though, when Rickey finally opens up about his father's recent death; he wants Glenn to road-trip with him to the title city for a spreading of ashes. Glenn acquiesces — a real adult supports someone in need, after all. But we know something's afoot when, away from Glenn's eyes, Rickey quickly empties a tennis-ball can and fills it with dirt from the side of the road. For a good while, the breezy chuckles in 'Sacramento' stem from the eccentric clash of priorities and temperaments of a certain kind of limbo male whose sociability skills have soured. Whether fake-wrestling or barhopping with women or trying to psychologize each other, neither guy really knows what's fun or illuminating anymore. They're just papering over the crushing weight of impending responsibility. Rickey, all forced smiles and performative boyishness, wants to charm his way into blissful indecision, while Glenn, a classically Cera-esque misfit of unearned confidence, talks himself into an illusion of control over his destiny. But when it's revealed what Rickey's true dilemma is — an abandoned relationship with an old fling (Maya Erskine) — the movie's sense of humor morphs, too, into an affectionate, even mildly scary study in self-delusion. Erskine's salt-and-vinegar comic timing and unforced soulfulness is a national treasure. Thankfully, her real-life husband (Angarano) appreciates this and is wonderfully dialed in to why her no-nonsense character's dose of third-act frankness should be the triggering sincerity needed to bring 'Sacramento' to a believably offbeat (but no less pleasurable) conclusion. The movie is also smart enough to recognize that its women aren't there to save anyone, just to remind these well-intentioned men about getting over themselves. The prickly comedy of male-pattern personality collapse gives way to wisdom, something that 'Sacramento' has in abundance.
